Lying: What constitutes a grave matter?

[faithhopelove12]

For a lie to be considered grave, does it need to do serious harm? (hurt somebody’s reputation, lying under oath, skewing Church teaching, etc.)

I was out fishing the other day and I had forgotten my license in the car. When asked by my buddy if had it on me I told him I did. Technically I was fishing illegally because I didn’t have my license on my person but I didn’t want to concern him. Sort of a non issue since we weren’t keeping any of the fish, just catching and releasing, but I just wanted to make sure I’m not rationalizing.

 

[Bravo_6]

It was,what some call a white lie,BUT…a lie all the same.A lie is a lie.

 

[Peanut7949]

So you had it in the car that you drove to go fishing?

 

[ProVobis]

I was out fishing the other day and I had forgotten my license in the car. When asked by my buddy if had it on me I told him I did. Technically I was fishing illegally because I didn’t have my license on my person but I didn’t want to concern him. Sort of a non issue since we weren’t keeping any of the fish, just catching and releasing, but I just wanted to make sure I’m not rationalizing.

What would have happened had you been checked for the license by the authorities? Would your buddy have been subjected to the same penalties as you? If so, I would consider that serious. But the lie doesn’t seem to be the only sin here.

 

[thistle]

For a lie to be considered grave, does it need to do serious harm? (hurt somebody’s reputation, lying under oath, skewing Church teaching, etc.)

I was out fishing the other day and I had forgotten my license in the car. When asked by my buddy if had it on me I told him I did. Technically I was fishing illegally because I didn’t have my license on my person but I didn’t want to concern him. Sort of a non issue since we weren’t keeping any of the fish, just catching and releasing, but I just wanted to make sure I’m not rationalizing.

CCC 2482 “A lie consists in speaking a falsehood with the intention of deceiving.” The Lord denounces lying as the work of the devil: “You are of your father the devil, . . . there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

2483 Lying is the most direct offense against the truth. To lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead someone into error. By injuring man’s relation to truth and to his neighbor, a lie offends against the fundamental relation of man and of his word to the Lord.

CCC 2484 The gravity of a lie is measured against the nature of the truth it deforms, the circumstances, the intentions of the one who lies, and the harm suffered by its victims. If a lie in itself only constitutes a venial sin, it becomes mortal when it does grave injury to the virtues of justice and charity.

CCC 2485 By its very nature, lying is to be condemned. It is a profanation of speech, whereas the purpose of speech is to communicate known truth to others. The deliberate intention of leading a neighbor into error by saying things contrary to the truth constitutes a failure in justice and charity. The culpability is greater when the intention of deceiving entails the risk of deadly consequences for those who are led astray.

CCC 2486 Since it violates the virtue of truthfulness, a lie does real violence to another. It affects his ability to know, which is a condition of every judgment and decision. It contains the seed of discord and all consequent evils. Lying is destructive of society; it undermines trust among men and tears apart the fabric of social relationships.

 

[Peanut7949]

St. Augustine said that there are different degrees of sin in lying… less in the ones that is to save life or help from injuring another… the serious ones are ones that hurt others. YOURS is not to hurt others. Give it a break. Don’t sweat the small stuff… FiSH!